Images are very important on presentations. They catch the attention of the audience and help keep them engaged. However, not all images have this kind of effect. But if you use image treatments and know what kind of image treatment to use, then your chance of creating a wonderful and engaging presentation increases. Here are ways to make your images beautiful:

1. 3-side Rule – This is when an image touches at least 3 sides of a slide.

2. Isolated Image – This is using an image with similar background as the slide.

3. Snapshot Treatment – This is when you need to include several images on a particular slide

4. Images in SmartArt – This is when you use small images on SmartArt diagrams.

Cropping pictures in PowerPoint can be great tools for presentations and slides especially if you want to end up with an exact measurement or you want to fit an image into a predefined space.. Here’s how you do them in PowerPoint 2007 and 2010. It’s pretty easy:

Rich-click the image and choose Size and Position. The Size and Position dialog box opens.

On the Size tab, use the Crop From boxes — Left, Right, Top, and Bottom — to crop off the amount you need. Use the Height and Width boxes at the top (in the Size and Rotate section of the dialog box) to figure out how much you need to crop off.

To see the result, click the Close button. You’ll probably need to make a few adjustments to get the result that you want.

When making presentations, there are times when you need images of people to complete your slide or the story you are conveying to your audience. Below are four useful places where you can get these people images for your presentation:

Take your own photos – Whether you’re in the office or at home, you’ll always find people you can photograph. Ask them nicely and when they oblige, let them fix themselves up first.

Use silhouettes – PowerPoint has an image gallery for this. Use the photos there to show diversity.

Create icons – There are ways to do this in PowerPoint. Read this blog post to learn how:Create iconic people in PowerPoint

Buy photos – There are numerous sites online that sell photos you can use for your presentation if you have a budget. Try out http://www.bigstockphoto.com/